Automatic valve



May 28, 1929. E, ARNE 1,714,756

AUTOMATIC VALVE- Fil ed July 24, 1926 FfCiL INVEN TOR. WITNESSES: Eugene LJBarzws,

Q omvzys. I

Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES earner errant.

EUGENE L. BARNES, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AssIeNon To THE BARBER AsPnALr COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A cOaronArIoN OF WEST VIR- GINIA.

Application filed July 24,

This invention relates to an automatic valve of the type especially useful in circulatory refrigerating systems wherein the refrigerating medium passes through a control valve in liquid form, is evaporated for purposes of refrigeration, and then returned to means whereby it is re-liquefied.

An important object of this invention is to utilize all of the flow through the valve with an intermittently separated overflow therefromtoalternately effect closure and opening of said valve.

Another object is to utilize the trapped high pressure on the compression side of the valve to force the intermittently separated overflow through the valve at a relatively greater velocity than that of the inflowing liquid.

A further object is to provide a compact and efficient automatic control for the valve, positive in its action and free from any impediment tending to produce inoperativeness, or requiring attention to keep the valve in order.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a typicalembodiment of my invention, while the subjoined claims serve to define those features which are deemed novel in'the art.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a longitudinal section of my improved automatic valve; and,

Fig. II is an end view looking toward the right hand of Fig. I.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the automatic valve of my invention is enclosed in a casing or cooler 3, conveniently of cylindrical form and having one end 4 permanently closed in while the other end is fitted with a removable head 5 secured thereto by screw studs 6. This removable head 5as well as the cylindrical casing flange 7is of comparatively heavy section, whereas the other portions are relatively light and thin. The head 5 is provided with a concentric tubular portion 8 having a shouldered end 9 adapted to receive the complementarily counter-bored part 10 of an opposed cupped section 11 with a fluid tight connection; said portion 8 and section 11 thereby affording an enclosed trap chamber 12. The cupped section 11 is secured to the head 5 by clamping screws or stud bolts 13 AUTOMATIC VALVE,

1926. SerialNo. 124,617.

passed through apertured lugs lat on said section and engaged in serew-threaded holes 15 provided for the purpose in the head 5.

Liquid refrigerant is conducted from any suitable source, by way ofa connection 16, into the trap chamber 12 at a point below the normal liquid level in the casing or cooler 3. I v

Longitudinally of the cupped section 11 is. an embossment 17, bored with screwthread to receive a tubular fitting 18 which is radially located relative to the trap chamber. 12; or, in the particular embodiment illustrated said fitting is vertically positioned. The fitting 121s provided with a head portion 19 having a lateral duct 20 arranged to align with a similar passage 21 in the embossment 17, thus completing an outlet byway of an angled pipe 22 extending downwardly well below the normal liquid level in'tlle casing 3-. As shown, the major portion of the fitting 18 is tubular with the inner end thereof aflording a seat for the control valve 23, which closes and opens communication through a constricted aperture 24 into the outlet 20, 21 and 22.

Actuation of the control valve 23 is effected by a trap pot 25 pivoted at 26 on a projec tion 27 of the fitting 18, with a co-ordinating shank or rod 28 from said valve similarly connected to an offset lug 29 in the bottom of said pot.

The operation of my automatic control valve is as follows ;Assuming that the easing 3 contains the normal quantity of refrigcrating medium as indicated by the level line 30, and that the trap chamber 12 is gradually filling with liquid refrigerant by way of the connection 16 to the level where it starts overflowing into the trap-pot 25, it will be apparent that as the trap-pot 25 fills sufficiently its-buoyancy will be disturbed and it will tilt downwardly on the pivot 26, and thereby open the valve 23 through the connection 28. Immediately the valve 23 opens the pressure existing in the trap chamber 12 forces the 2-3, and that as it intermittently accumulates in the trap-pot 25 to tilt the latter, it is forced out through the aperture 24 by the existing pressure on the compression side of the refrigerating system at a greater rate of flow incident to the additional trapped pressure in the chamber 12. As a result the liquid level in the trap-pot 25, as well as that in the chamber 12, is simultaneously lowered thereby restoring the buoyancy of the pot 25, which responsively swings upwards to the position shown, thus re-seating the valve 23. The trap-pot 25 is designed so that it will swing 7 up to close the valve 23 before the lower end of the outflow tube 18 is clear of the liquid refrigerant in the trap-pot 25, and thereby effectively prevents flashing. Attention is also drawn to the fact that the lower portion of the trap chamber 12 serves as a freezing zone, so that any water finding its way thereinto and settling is promptly frozen, inasmuch as the chamber 12 is always surrounded by the boiling refrigerant in the casing 3, which is at a normal temperature below freezing point. r

"While I have showna particular construction of my novel automatic control valve, it is to be understood the details as to form and arrangement of the parts thereof'a-re susceptible of modification within the scope of the 1 claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: m y

1. A liquid and vapor chamber for a circulatory refrigerating system having a lateral opening, in combination with a detachable closure for said opening, a trap chamber carried by said closure with a detachable portion including means for the passage of liquid from the trap chamber out into the liquid and vapor chamber, and an overflow and float pot in said trap chamber controlling said passage means and removable with the detachable portion of the trap chamber,

2'. A liquid and vapor chamberfor a circulatory refrigerating system having a lateral opening, in combination with a detachable closure for said opening, a trap chamber carried by said closure with an aperture in its top wall, means for the passage of the liquid from the trap chamber into the firstprovided with an enlarged upper end screwed into tne aforesaid aperture and with a valve seat, an overflow and float pot 1n sald vchammentioned chamber, including a hollow stem yr 7 her mounted on said stem, and a Valve for 7 said valve seat actuated by said pot.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Buffalo, N. Y., this 22nd day of July 1926.

EUGENE L. BARNES, v 

